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Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)

Prepare to teach, support, and inspire students at the elementary or secondary level. 

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Program Overview

The Master of Arts in Teaching program is ideal for aspiring educators who studied something other than education at the bachelor’s level. Whether you’re a recent college graduate or an experienced professional looking to transition into teaching, the MAT degree gives you the opportunity to meet your goal to become an educator.

Courses are a mix of online and hybrid, with students attending weekly in-person sessions and completing a portion of their coursework online. Prior to your clinical practice (student teaching) semester, you will be required to complete a minimum of 225 hours of fieldwork over the course of your program. Your advisor will outline your specific field hours for your program.

Career Outcomes

The MAT degree prepares you to teach at a variety of levels, in a variety of subjects. 

  • Elementary school teacher
  • High school teacher in subjects like English, social studies, math, or science 
  • Special education teacher 
  • ESL teacher
  • Art teacher at all grade levels
  • Music teacher at all grade levels
  • Health or physical education teacher at all grade levels

MAT Degree Tracks & Endorsements

The Master of Arts in Teaching program offers the following tracks and endorsements: 

  • Elementary Track (K-6)
  • Elementary Track (K-6) with English as a Second Language Endorsement
  • Elementary Track (K-6) with Teacher of Student with Disabilities
  • Secondary Track (7-12) – with subject endorsements in:
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • English
    • Mathematics
    • Social Studies
  • Secondary Track (7-12) with English as a Second Language Endorsement
  • Secondary Track (7-12) with Teacher of Student with Disabilities
  • Subject Specialization (K-12) – with options in:
    • Art
    • Music
    • Health and Physical Education

Curriculum & Degree Requirements

The Master of Arts in Teaching is incredibly versatile. Your specific MAT degree requirements will vary broadly based on your chosen endorsement(s), such as grade level or content area.

Courses Requirements

Refer to the following graduate catalog links for the most accurate and up-to-date degree requirements and course descriptions. 

Elementary Track (K-6)

Secondary Track (7-12)

Subject Specialization (K-12)

Clinical Practice (Student Teaching)

No matter which MAT track or endorsement you choose your program will start with field experiences in the classroom. You will complete a full-time student teaching experience in an approved school setting.

Student teaching is a full-time, full-semester field experience, which occurs during a fall or spring semester. This semester-long internship allows you to observe, plan, instruct, and assess students under the guidance of a cooperating teacher or faculty member.

Admissions Requirements

Here’s an overview of the admissions requirements and application process for our Master of Arts in Teaching.

Admissions Criteria & Application Requirements

To be considered for admission:

  • A four-year baccalaureate degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA in the undergraduate major
    • Subject-specific content requirements, depending on area of certification

Your application must also include: 

  • Resume
  • Two letters of recommendation related to the applicants preparedness for graduate study
  • Personal statement (about two pages) highlighting student’s goals for the MAT degree program
Subject Area Prerequisites

If you’re looking to pursue a specialization in social studies, science, or health and physical education, you’ll also need to meet specific criteria from your undergraduate (or other graduate) degree:

Subject Area Criteria

Social Studies

  • 15 credits in history
  • 3 credits in economics
  • 3 credits in geography
  • 12 credits in social sciences (or additional history)

Physical Education

  • 45 credits of health and physical education in one of these combinations:
    • 30 credits in health studies and 15 credits in physical education; OR
    • 30 credits in physical education and 15 credits in health studies
  • 6 credits in individual, dual, or team sports

Physical Science

  • 30 credits in chemistry
  • 15 credits in physics
  • 8 credits in mathematics

Program Options

Choose a track, content specialization, and other endorsements that match your professional interests.

Hands-On Experience

Gain practical teaching, assessment, and curriculum development experience in classroom settings. 

Expert Faculty

Learn from passionate educators with a range of teaching experience and research interests.

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Tuition & Financial Aid

Learn more about tuition and financial aid options for graduate students. 

Program Faculty

Our faculty members are passionate about teaching. They have expertise in front of the classroom, in curriculum development, and in educational leadership. 

Photo of Kathryn L. Lubniewski, Ph.D.

Program Director

Professor;
Assistant Director, Social Justice Academy

732-923-4610

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Program Coordinator

MAT Program Coordinator

732-263-5689

Danielle Frith, Ph.D.

Specialist Professor

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Mary Haspel, Ed.D., BCBA-D

Assistant Professor

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Ai Kamei, Ph.D.

Associate Professor;
Interim Department Chair

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Dawn C. McCulloch

Adjunct Professor

Alex Romagnoli

Alex Romagnoli, Ph.D.

Interim Associate Dean of the School of Education;
Associate Professor

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Vincent Sasso

Adjunct Professor